Learning to build websites and robots

Ascendant’s first-ever STEM camp is a huge hit. 

The company is using STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) to help promote a greater interest in the topic that might someday translate into Bermudians going away to university to replace an aging workforce.

Designed for 12 to 15-year-olds, the camp was over-subscribed.

Camp teacher Anastasia Smith told the Bermuda Sun it wasn’t simply about building a robot, but designing it so it would do what it is supposed to do. 

Taylor Saraiva, 14, a Warwick Academy student, said she signed up for the camp to understand technology better. 

“I’ve learned about programming a robot and get it to move around and I’ve learned how to create a website using Google.”

Sion Symonds, 12 and a student at Somersfield Academy said he signed up for the camp because “I didn’t know much about robotics and I like to try new things. I heard the camp was about building and programming robots and I found that pretty interesting.

“I feel this camp has given me more knowledge and information than I came with.”

Jordan Watts, 13, an incoming student to CedarBridge Academy, said he wanted to learn how “to programme and make it do what you want it to do”.

The camp ran for two weeks and Ascendent plans on expanding it next year.